He broke several long runs and pounded his way through the line for a handful of tough short gains. He also made a few catches out of the backfield and even completed a deep pass to Josh Schaffer on a halfback toss play.

“It just feels good to be back to 100 percent and do whatever coach asks me,” Chance said with a big smile. “That’s my biggest concern. Whatever he says to do, I do.”

Chance suffered a quadricep injury in WMU’s third game last season, against Central Michigan, and was unable to bounce back.

On Saturday, Chance stole the show on offense and bounced back every time Johhnie Simon or another Bronco defender tried to lay the lumber on his small shifty frame.

“I felt fine. I felt good,” he said. “I missed all of last year to the injury, so I’m good. I’m healthy and like I said, wherever you put me, receiver, quarterback, running back, wherever. I’m ready to go.”

Last year’s mainstay back Tevin Drake sidelined on crutches this spring with a leg injury.

Bill Cubit

Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said he has been pleased with Chance’s physical and mental rebound from last season.

“Last year was a wasted year,” Cubit said. “I’ve been seeing (good things from Chance) all spring. His ratio of good to bad plays is so much better. He showed some toughness. There were some big hits delivered by him as well.”

Chance tallied 87 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the scrimmage.

Junior wide receiver Josh Schaffer scored on a 73-yard catch and run play that included a crucial downfield block from senior wideout Eric Monette.

Schaffer, however, ended the scrimmage with his right arm in a sling with what was believed to be a shoulder injury. Cubit said the injury was nothing serious.

Cubit said Monette, who looked sharp as usual on Saturday, has the edge as the team’s No. 1 receiver a few weeks into spring ball, but said Schaffer is on his heels.

Behind those two, WMU is still searching for a third, fourth and fifth receiver.

Senior left tackle Dann O’Neill said he thought the offense overall performed well, but he said he and his fellow linemen expect more out of themselves.

“I thought the wideouts and the skill positions on offense were really good today,” O’Neill said. “They came out and played hard. As for us, the offensive line, I think we can really step it up. I don’t think today was as good as we’re capable of. We didn’t perform the way we can, especially with four guys returning.

“I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. It’s not that it’s not there, it’s just that we came out with the wrong mental attitude today. I think we were too relaxed, definitely. Our position group is probably the oldest on the team. We need to come out and take charge.”

In the running to replace graduated Anthony Parker at right tackle, the only hole up front offensively, are junior Terry Davisson (6-6, 301) and redshirt-freshman Willie Beavers (6-6, 296).

Schaffer finished with four catches for 164 yards and a score while Monette caught two balls for 15 yards and score.

The Broncos got their first chance to see their new hybrid three-man front defense moving at full speed.

Senior end-turned-linebacker Paul Hazel looked sharp coming off the edge against the run and going at the quarterback, but looked a bit uncertain at times in drop-back pass coverage situations.

Rich Nagy

Defensive coordinator Rich Nagy said he liked what he saw from his linemen, which included senior Chris Prom at left end, Travonte Boles at nose tackle and sophomore Demetris Anderson at right end in the first-team group.

In the back end, junior corner Lewis Toler seemed to be around the ball on almost every play. He had one interception and had a chance at a couple others.

“I think the guys are doing a good job,” Toler said of a defensive group that seemed to be flowing well and taking advantage of its athleticism. “We’re still adjusting to a new defense. As long as we keep getting better, we’ll be OK.”

In the same five-minute span that included Toler’s interception, WMU’s defense forced fumbles on back-to-back plays and looked stout as it also threw a four-man front at the offense occasionally.

Nagy had a smile on his face when talking about that span, but said overall his defense is in the middle of being good and bad.

“We just have to develop consistency,” he said.

Cubit said he liked what he saw from sophomore Devon Brant and junior Terry Easmon in a linebacking group that saw plenty of bodies rotating in and out.

WMU’s head coach said the progress with the defense is evident, but agreed with Nagy that establishing some consistency in the final two weeks of spring ball is crucial.

“It’s a work in progress,” Cubit said. “What I’m seeing is the secondary is not giving up as many big plays. If they give up a play, it’s maybe a 12 or 15 yard play. They did give up one, but I think they’re getting used to it.

“Scrimmage-wise, that was probably the hardest-hitting one since I’ve been here. Sometimes, the defense lacks confidence. Sometimes they don’t see through the bad times like the offense can.”

WMU will have another scrimmage next Saturday morning before the Brown and Gold game at noon on April 14 to conclude spring ball.